Web and Instructional Technology

Each week the Instructional Technologists will try to provide a short list of some really good web resources that you might want to use in your classroom. (Note: Some of these resources may have charges for certain levels. Additionally, any technical support for these tools is provided from the resource’s website, not the SPC Technical Support Desk or ITs.) If you have some resources you would like to share with others, please click on the Comments link above the title of this post, log in and then create a comment. We would love to hear from you.

This week the resources will be all related to communication topics.

Weboword – Vocabulary Visually!

It can be really difficult for visual learners to get a good handle on vocabulary. Without good visual aids, the definitions behind words can feel abstract and hard to grasp. Weboword is a fantastic visual vocabulary site that offers students illustrations that help students understand vocabulary. (From iLearn Technology Blog Post from 3-10-2010)

Share and mark up documents online | crocodoc:

Sharing and reviewing documents and presentations with others can be quite a pain. crocodoc was built to change that, alleviating the need to email attachments back and forth, print and pass around hard copies, or install expensive collaboration software.

Pre-Grade Your Paper: Free Online Grammar Checker and More | a.k.a. Paper Grader:

PaperRater.com is a free resource, developed and maintained by linguistics professionals and graduate students. PaperRater.com is used by schools and universities in over 46 countries to help students improve their writing.

Each week the Instructional Technologists will try to provide a short list of some really good web resources that you might want to use in your classroom. (Note: Some of these resources may have charges for certain levels. Additionally, any technical support for these tools is provided from the resource’s website, not the SPC Technical Support Desk or ITs.) If you have some resources you would like to share with others, please click on the Comments link above the title of this post, log in and then create a comment. We would love to hear from you.

This week the resources will be all related to history topics.

American President: Resource on the U.S. Presidents

A comprehensive collection of material about the Presidents of the United States and the history of the presidency. This web site features essays about the President’s life before, during, and after each presidential term. It additionally provides information about the First Lady and cabinet officials of each administration. A collection of essays on the President at Work delves into the function, responsibilities, and organization of the modern presidency and traces the history and evolution of presidential duties.

picturing the thirties:

Learn about the 1930s through eight exhibitions: The Depression, The New Deal, The Country, Industry, Labor, The City, Leisure, and American People. Artworks from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection are supplemented with other primary source materials such as photographs, newsreels, and artists’ memorabilia.

Teaching the Civil War with Technology:

An interesting way for students to experience the Civil War is to personalize it for them. One way to personalize the Civil War is to allow students to experience the war through the eyes (or in this case letters and documents) of a solider. The Library of Congress has created A Solider from the Wildcat Regiment that details the life of a Union solider in the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This digital resource center contains documents, photographs and letters related to Capt. Tilton Reynolds combined with ideas and suggestions on how you can incorporate the information into your classroom.

The map as history : a multimedia atlas of world history with animated historical maps:

The largest on-line collection of animated historical maps

• For students: a learning tool to increase comprehension and retention
• For teachers: a ready-made teaching tool to add visual impact in the classroom
• For history buffs: new technology to add new perspectives

Each week the Instructional Technologists will try to provide a short list of some really good web resources that you might want to use in your classroom. (Note: Some of these resources may have charges for certain levels. Additionally, any technical support for these tools is provided from the resource’s website, not the SPC Technical Support Desk or ITs.) If you have some resources you would like to share with others, please click on the Comments link above the title of this post, log in and then create a comment. We would love to hear from you.

Linus Pauling and the Race for DNA: A Documentary History:

Utilizing over 800 scanned documents, photographs, audio clips and video excerpts, this website narrates the breathless details of the pursuit of the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. Scattered throughout the project are images of a number of very important and extremely rare items, most of which are held within the Oregon State University Libraries’ Ava Helen and Linus Pauling Papers, and many of which have not been previously displayed. It is expected that this website will serve as a primary reference point for individuals interested in the history of DNA.

Geo.me Solutions Showcase:

In late 2009 the UK Government launched an Open Data initiative, headed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, along with a call for innovations challenging the developer community to make this data more accessible. In response, Geo.me Solutions is showcasing a number of concept demonstrations using map-based visualisations.

The data set represented in the map below was released by the UK Met Office in December 2009. It consists of a network of individual land stations designated by the World Meteorological Organization for use in climate monitoring. The data show monthly average temperature values for over 1,500 land stations.

Use the search forms or click markers on the map to find and view data for each land station, including its location, nearby stations, current weather and a plot of monthly average temperatures stretching back more than 300 years in some cases.

LoudLit.org:

LoudLit.org is committed to delivering public domain literature paired with high quality audio performances. We pair together great literature and accompanying audio.

Putting the text and audio together, readers can learn spelling, punctuation and paragraph structure by listening and reading masterpieces of the written word. Read and listen via your web browser or on your mp3 player. Regardless of how you enjoy the audiobooks (audio books), they are free.

Intute – Home:

Intute is a free online service that helps you to find the best web resources for your studies and research.

With millions of resources available on the Internet, it can be difficult to find useful material. Our subject specialists review and evaluate thousands of resources to help you choose the key websites in your subject.

We can also help you develop your Internet research skills through our Virtual Training Suite tutorials, written by lecturers and librarians from universities across the UK.